May is Mental Health Awareness Month. While mental health is important all year, in May we focus special attention on this topic to raise awareness and inform you about your mental health resources and benefits. Unfortunately, stigma and misunderstanding still exist around mental health, so we hope to dispel the myths around mental health conditions and encourage employees to seek help when they need it.

For example, you may be surprised at the following U.S. statistics from the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI):

• 1 in 5 adults will experience mental illness.
• 1 in 20 adults will experience serious mental illness
• 17% of children between the ages of 6-17 experience a mental health disorder.

After more than a year of social distancing and anxiety around COVID-19, not surprisingly, more people are experiencing mental health conditions. Even if you are not personally struggling with mental health conditions, someone you know most certainly is. Learning about mental health for you, your colleagues, friends and family can help.

This month, there are some great opportunities to learn about your mental health benefits, how to Fight Back against the Loneliness Epidemic, how to Build your Mental Health Toolkit, and how Mindset is the Key to Unlocking Human Performance. You can register for these and more events through the ERS Wellness Events Calendar. Also through the month of June, mental health virtual visits through Dr. on Demand and MDLive are covered at no cost to HealthSelect and Consumer Directed HealthSelect participants. Referrals are not required for mental health visits. There will be several webinars this month to help you understand these and all your mental health benefits through the ERS health plans.

Also, remember that UTEAP is available 24/7 to help you cope with any unknowns in your life. To speak to a counselor about your concerns, contact 713-500-3327 or 800-346-3549.